NATIONWIDE — The Farm Bill shapes nearly every part of American agriculture, from family farms and local food systems to nutrition programs and conservation efforts. Lawmakers and farmers say it determines who can access food, how crops are grown, and how farms stay in business amid rising costs and labor challenges.  

At Ag Progress Days,an annual agricultural fair, U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R, PA-15), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, emphasized that nutrition programs, especially SNAP, are central to the legislation. “The number-one part of the Farm Bill is nutrition. It is the largest portion of the Farm Bill, specifically SNAP,” he said. “The Farm Bill is about helping those who produce our food and those who need help affording it.”
The bill also addresses farm labor, conservation, disaster relief and local food systems—issues small and mid-sized family farms say are critical to staying in business. Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R, PA-08) highlighted the challenges of keeping family farms operational as costs rise, while farmers noted that labor shortages limit their ability to use federal programs.

Nutrition programs highlighted 
Thompson said programs like SNAP are not only a lifeline for families facing food insecurity, but are also a key market for dairy farmers and local producers. He has pushed for more flexibility in food and farm-to-school programs, but said, “We don’t have the authority to do that at the federal level.”

He also addressed the decline in milk consumption after certain varieties were removed from school cafeterias. “We took milk out of schools and kids stopped drinking it. We need to restore the choices so they can get the nutrition they need, and so our dairy farmers have the market they deserve,” he said.

“The Farm Bill covers a wide range of programs from farm safety nets and conservation to research and rural development, but the largest share of spending goes to nutrition assistance,” Thompson added. “Nutrition has always been a flashpoint in debate, but it is important because it addresses hunger and provides food access.”

Family farms face labor shortages

Labor remains the top challenge, according to Charlie Porter, a farmer and PA Farm Bureau member. “Even with programs in the Farm Bill, which provide subsidies, crop insurance and nutrition support, the labor problem threatens our ability to use them effectively,” he said. “Programs like H-2A by law do not meet the needs of year-round work, and reforms are needed to reduce costs and bureaucracy.” H-2A visas allow foreign workers into the U.S. for temporary agricultural work.

Thompson said a bipartisan task force has drafted legislation to address year-round labor. “It would make it easier for proven workers to return and help farmers maintain a reliable workforce while complying with federal standards,” he said. He also emphasized that federal nutrition programs serve U.S. citizens and legal residents. “Federal nutrition programs exist to support U.S. citizens and legal residents in need, not those who have broken our laws to enter the country,” he said.

Conservation, crop insurance and disaster relief
Thompson highlighted conservation and disaster relief programs. “Conservation is really important to us. We actually increased the conservation funding 25 percent,” he said, citing the Sustains Act, signed during the Biden administration, which creates a public-private partnership within the USDA for conservation funding.

He discussed plans to modernize the Conservation Reserve Program, which pays farmers to preserve parts of their land with vegetative cover. “We are trying to use acreage that is less productive for crops. Some of these CRP practices may enhance soil health. In the future, areas that are like food deserts in terms of soil health may become very productive based on these practices,” Thompson said.

On crop insurance, Thompson said the program has become more affordable and versatile. Specialty crops such as vegetables and watermelons, which lack coverage, will gain it. Supplemental disaster relief will also be included. He added that insurance cannot cover everything but will protect against common disasters such as droughts, floods and wind events.

Forestry management is another priority. Thompson stressed the importance of increasing forest management to address invasive species. “By ramping up forest management, these are very real challenges that we can and must aggressively confront,” he said.

Policy and local impacts
The Farm Bill, currently under debate in Congress, has drawn attention from lawmakers and farmers alike. Reps. Bresnahan and Thompson described it as a bipartisan effort addressing farm labor, comprehensive immigration reform, forestry and SNAP.Audience members raised concerns about proposed cuts that could affect tens of thousands of people. Officials explained that some programs require congressional authorization to continue, while increased research funding could benefit institutions such as Penn State.

While most farms in Pennsylvania and New York are small or mid-sized family operations, averaging about 150 acres, many are newer or diversified farms, for which programs related to conservation, local food systems and nutrition are most impactful. The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization, reported in July 2025 that from 1995 through 2024 the top 10 percent of commodity farms received nearly 80 percent of subsidy payments, highlighting longstanding concerns that farm bill subsidies continue to favor large producers over smaller operations.

Bresnahan recently introduced the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act, aimed at connecting local growers with food distribution programs. He discussed these issues during a roundtable that included an eighth-generation orchard owner and the executive director of Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank.

When asked about the Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act, Farm Bureau president Bonnie LaTourette said the legislation could help small businesses grow while meeting community needs. Samantha Kemnah, membership communications manager at NOFA-NY, said her organization supports it.